5 Steps to Turn Your Expertise into a Profitable Online Course

As coaches and consultants, we’re in the business of transforming lives and solving problems. But there comes a point when we realize that the one-on-one model is limiting. You only have so many hours in a day, right? That's where creating an online course comes in—allowing you to scale your impact and help more people, while also building a consistent stream of revenue. So, how do you turn your expertise into a profitable online course? Let’s break it down into five simple steps.

Step 1: Identify Your Core Expertise

Let’s start with the obvious—what do you know inside and out? Whether it’s business strategy, mindset coaching, or leadership development, you’ve got something that people need. The key is to focus on the one thing you’re really good at. Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Your course needs to solve a specific problem, so start by asking yourself: What problem can I help my ideal client solve?

Step 2: Get Clear on Your Audience

You can have the most amazing course idea, but if it’s not solving a pain point for a specific group of people, it won’t sell. Think about who your course is for. Are they new entrepreneurs struggling to build their business? Seasoned professionals looking to break into coaching? The more detailed you are, the better. When you’re clear on who your course is for, you’ll find it easier to market, too.

Step 3: Map Out Your Course Content

Once you’ve nailed down your niche (or focus area!), it’s time to plan your course. Start by thinking about the transformation you want your students to have by the end. Then, reverse-engineer that journey. What lessons, exercises, or modules do they need to go through to get from point A (where they are now) to point B (the result they want)? Don’t overcomplicate it—keep your content actionable, and make sure each step builds on the last.

Step 4: Choose the Right Format

Not all courses need to be 10-week programs with video modules, worksheets, and live sessions. Some of the most effective courses are simple but laser-focused. Ask yourself: What’s the best way to deliver my content? Do you want to create video lessons? Audio-only? Maybe a mix? The format should suit your teaching style and what works best for your audience. If your clients are busy professionals, bite-sized videos might be perfect. If they’re more hands-on, interactive workshops might be the way to go.

Step 5: Validate Before You Build

Before you invest time and energy into creating a full course, make sure there’s a market for it! One of the biggest mistakes I see is people spending months on a course without validating if anyone actually wants it. This can be as simple as talking to your current clients or audience. Ask them directly: Would this course help you? If the answer is yes, even better—pre-sell it! Get people to sign up before you’ve created it, and use that momentum to build your course.

Time to Take Action

Turning your expertise into a profitable online course doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s all about focusing on what you do best, understanding your audience, and delivering value in a way that scales. With these five steps, you’ll be on your way to creating a course that transforms lives—and grows your business at the same time.

Ready to get started? Let’s do this together!